Praying for you is one thing. Asking the dead to speak to Jesus for you is another. Don't you ever just talk to Him?
Sorry for butting into your conversation, but this is a question Protestants often ask, but usually the discussion is on matters of theology and, so, an answer is rarely forth coming.
This is a shame, I believe. First, because I believe Protestants are honestly often concerned we Catholics don't allow ourselves to 'just talk' to Jesus. And, second, because I truly don't believe they realize just how insulting the question can sound. Perhaps the angst on both sides could be cleared up if we went into a little more detail about our prayer lives. We may find there is much less seperating us than we think.
Thus, with this said, I'd like to answer Cindy's question.
Yes, Cindy, quite frequently I do just talk to Jesus. First, I regularly begin my day with a morning offering. As soon as I arise I say, "Oh my Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you this day my prayers, my works my joys and my sufferings. I offer them in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in raparations for my sins, for the intentions of the Holy Father, and most particularly for the intentions of your Most Sacred Heart." Undoubtedly, many Protestants would have problems with some of the theology which underlies this prayer. However, please note it is directed solely to Jesus. For me, it is a roundabout way of saying, "Unto thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul."(Psalm 25, I believe.)
At each meal, I offer a blessing before and a word of thanksgiving afterward. Though, in all fairness, these are directed more to our heavenly Father.
At least twice during the day, before Mass and at three o'clock when I like to spend ten of fifteen minutes with Scripture (o.k.,o.k., mainly with the Psalms, call me weak) I recite the Anima Christi which goes: "Soul of Christ, Sacntify Me; Body of Christ, Save Me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the Side of Christ, Wash Me; Passion of Christ, Strengthen me; Oh good Jesus, hear me; Within thy five wounds hide me. Suffer me never to be seperated from thee. From the evil One, protect Me. And at the hour of my death call me, and bid me to come unto thee. So that with all thy angels and saints, I may praise thee, forever and ever. Amen."
Now, at about this point, you're about ready to say something like, "well, yeah, but that's just reciting repetitious prayers. Don't ya ever just talk to Him?"
Try to understand, I find these practices help lift my soul to Him, they quiet me, reminding me I'm in God's presence. Then, I am ready to lay my particular cares and concerns before Him.
I have similar prayers I recite after Mass each morning and I always like to stay afterwords for at least a few minutes to savor the experience of the grace which comes from the Eucharist and spend some time with Him.
Now, I wish I could say every time I do this I experience His presence; that I connect with Him. Some times I do, and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I'm just to distracted. Or other times I experience a bit of dryness, the sort of dryness in prayer virtually every Christian who takes their prayer life seriously probably often experiences and about which virtually every author on prayer (both Protestant and Catholic) I've read has written.
Then, there is my evening prayer. I think back on the days events and think of the ways I may have failed Him. But I also think of the things which, through His grace, I did well. I express sorrow for my failings (we call this an Act of Contrition) and I thank Him for His Grace. After this, I'll often do an Angelus (you wouldn't like it, it's chocked full of Hail Marys' -) and ask St. Joseph, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Agatha to pray for me. Also, often I will conclude with either an Our Father or a Prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Now then, this is just my daily prayer life. I also thouroughly enjoy a monthly Holy Hour, spent in Adoration of the Eucharist. We believe the Eucharist substantially contains the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Hence, this hour a month is, for me, an hour spent virtually in his Substantial Presence.
I've already typed a great deal, and it seems I still haven't scratched the surface in expressing just how much I not only talk to Him, but love talking to Him. About all I can say is that, while I fall far short of my goal, my goal is to 'pray without ceasing.' Though, as I say, I often fall way too short.